IP Library Granted Patent US 9,911,608
Granted Patent B2
US 9,911,608 · App. 15/006,134 · Granted Mar 6, 2018

Method of forming patterns

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,911,608
App. No.
15/006,134
Granted
Mar 6, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of forming patterns includes the steps of providing a substrate on which a target layer and a hard mask layer are formed; forming a plurality of first resist patterns on the hard mask layer; performing a tilt-angle ion implant process to form a first doped area and a second doped area in the hard mask layer between adjacent first resist patterns; removing the first resist patterns; coating a directed self-assembly (DSA) material layer onto the hard mask layer; performing a self-assembling process of the DSA material layer to form repeatedly arranged block copolymer patterns in the DSA material layer; removing undesired portions from the DSA material layer to form second patterns on the hard mask layer; transferring the second patterns to the hard mask layer to form third patterns; and etching the target layer through the third patterns.

Claims (40)

1. A method of forming patterns, comprising:

providing a substrate on which a target layer and a hard mask layer are formed, wherein the hard mask layer is in direct contact with the target layer, and wherein the hard mask layer comprises titanium nitride, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, silicon carbon nitride, or polysilicon;

forming first resist patterns on the hard mask layer;

performing a tilt-angle ion implant process to form a first doped area and a second doped area in the hard mask layer and between adjacent first resist patterns;

removing the first resist patterns;

coating a directed self-assembly (DSA) material layer onto the hard mask layer;

performing a self-assembling process of the DSA material layer to form repeatedly arranged block copolymer patterns in the DSA material layer;

removing undesired portions from the DSA material layer to form second patterns on the hard mask layer;

transferring the second patterns to the hard mask layer to form third patterns; and

etching the target layer through the third patterns.

2. The method of forming patterns according to claim 1 , wherein the target layer comprises silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon, or polysilicon.

3. The method of forming patterns according to claim 1 , wherein the first doped area is spaced apart from the second doped area and the first doped area and the second doped area are between the adjacent first resist patterns.

4. The method of forming patterns according to claim 1 , wherein the first doped area and the second doped area have the same width.

5. The method of forming patterns according to claim 1 , wherein the first doped area and the second doped area have different widths.

6. The method of forming patterns according to claim 1 , wherein the undesired portions are the DSA material layer not directly positioned on the first doped area and the second doped area.

7. The method of forming patterns according to claim 1 , wherein the tilt-angle ion implant process changes polarity on the hard mask layer.

8. The method of forming patterns according to claim 7 , wherein the polarities of the first doped area and the second doped area are different from the polarity of undoped areas of the hard mask layer.

9. The method of forming patterns according to claim 1 , wherein the DSA material layer comprises block copolymers.

10. The method of forming patterns according to claim 9 , wherein the block copolymers comprise polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate).

11. The method of forming patterns according to claim 10 , wherein the self-assembling process is performed at a temperature lower than a glass transition temperature (Tg) of the block copolymers.

12. A method of forming patterns, comprising:

providing a substrate on which a target layer and a hard mask layer are formed, wherein the hard mask layer is in direct contact with the target layer, and wherein the hard mask layer comprises titanium nitride, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, silicon carbon nitride, or polysilicon;

forming first resist patterns on the hard mask layer;

performing a tilt-angle ion implant process to form a first doped area and a second doped area in the hard mask layer and between adjacent first resist patterns;

removing the first resist patterns;

coating a directed self-assembly (DSA) material layer onto the hard mask layer;

performing a self-assembling process of the DSA material layer to form repeatedly arranged block copolymer patterns in the DSA material layer;

removing undesired portions from the DSA material layer to form second patterns on the hard mask layer, the undesired portions comprising the DSA material layer directly positioned on the first doped area and the second doped area;

transferring the second patterns to the hard mask layer to form third patterns; and

etching the target layer through the third patterns.

13. A method of forming patterns, comprising:

providing a substrate on which a target layer and a hard mask layer are formed, wherein the hard mask layer is in direct contact with the target layer, and wherein the hard mask layer comprises titanium nitride, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, silicon carbon nitride, or polysilicon;

forming first resist patterns on the hard mask layer;

performing a tilt-angle ion implant process to form a first doped area and a second doped area in the hard mask layer and between adjacent first resist patterns;

removing the first resist patterns;

coating a directed self-assembly (DSA) material layer onto the hard mask layer;

performing a self-assembling process of the DSA material layer to form repeatedly arranged block copolymer patterns in the DSA material layer;

removing undesired portions from the DSA material layer to form second patterns on the hard mask layer, the second patterns having a pitch smaller than that of the first resist patterns;

transferring the second patterns to the hard mask layer to form third patterns; and

etching the target layer through the third patterns.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 051028/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050695/0825 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2018
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047540/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2017
From: INOTERA MEMORIES, INC.
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 041820/0815 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 3 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 10, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 041675/0105 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2016
From: CHOU, KUO-YAO
To: INOTERA MEMORIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 037577/0984 →